Timber splicer



Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES CHARLES VVI. MARKHAM, OFv'.LOLEDO,*OHIO TIMBER sPLIonR Application filed August 30, V1929.Serial No.'389,52`5.

This invention relatesto appliances for splicing timberstogether inend-to-end relation, and more particularly to devices of this characteradapted for use in connection with the construction of concretebuildings.

The object of the invention is the provision ofa simple, efficient andinexpensive ldevice of the class described, which enables timbers to beeasily and quickly secured together in end-to-end relation, and alsoseparated when the `work for which intended is iinished, and whichprovides strong and durable splicing means for the timbers.

The invention is fully described in the fol- 5 lowing speciiication,andwhile in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in numerousforms, a preferredembodiment thereoil is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation ot' a device embodyingthe invention with timbers disposed in splicing relation therein andwith the movable clamping member' in released position; Fig. 2 is adiilerent side elevation there- 25 of with the movable clamping memberin timber clamping position;` and with parts broken awa-y; 3 is anenlarged `cross-section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, and Figlvt is anenlarged end view thereof.` 3U Referring to the drawings, 5 and '6designate two timbers to splice, which timbers, particularly when usediny connection with concrete construction work, are usually square incross-section, although other shapes l may be, and sometimes are,employed. v

The splicing means illustrated includes three band members 7providing"substantially square openings, if the timbers to be splicedare square, and these members'are lined in substantially equi-distantrelation along, what may be termed, stationary clamping member S. Thisclamping member is of L, or angle-iron form in cross-section and extendsthrough the several bands 7, being set in and fitting one of the cornerangles of each of the bands. The side edges of the member' 8, are shownas terminating short of the sides of the bands 7 toward which theyproject, although this is not necessary. The bands 7 are xed to themember 8 by CFI riveting', welding, or in any other suitable manner. i

Themovable member 9 of the clamp er:-l tends threugh-the bands 7 intransverse opposition to the lixed clam inv member 8 and is D 7 oiangular form in cross-section, corresponding to that of the member 8 soas to cooperate therewith to form a timber receiving passageway otcross-sectional shape, substantially corresponding to that of thetimbers.v

The member-9 is provided Aon the outer side of each leg portion thereof,and within each band 7, with one or more wedge block 10, all pointing inthe same direction and adapted to coact with the respective sides of thebands 7 to force the member 9 toward the member 8 when the former ismoved in one direction along the interposed member. Theclamping member 9extends at its ends beyond the respective end bands 7, a sufficientdistance to permit the member 9 to have the necessary lengthwiseclamping and releasing movements relative to the bands 7 and stationaryclamping member 8. The member 9 is provided at its opposite ends at thecorner portions thereof, with driving blocks 11 and l2, the former, inthe present instance,

being fiXedly secured to and connecting-the outerends of the adjacentwedge blocks 10 lat the respective ends of the clamping mem'- In orderto facilitate the clamping action ofthe members 8 and 9 against thetimbers to be spliced, the leg `portions of the member 8' are preferablyprovided with inwardly projecting spurs 13, which imbed themselves inthesurface portions of the clamped Vtimbers, providing -such timbers are ofwood. One orlbothoi' the leg portions of the member 9 may also beprovided with apertures 14 for receiving securing nails l5.

In' the use vof my clamping device, the timbers to be spliced have theiradjacent ends inserted into -oppositeends of the splicing means betweentheclamping members 8 and '9; the member 9, during such action, beingwithdrawn to the right, inthe present instance, to move the wedge blocks10 out of wedging coaction with the bands 7. The

ends of the 'timberspreferably meetwithin the center band 7, which isapproximately in the center of the device. The timbers having beenassembled within the splicing device in this matter, the operatorstrikes the right end of the clamping member 9 with a hammer or othersuitable tool, the striking action being preferably against the block11, thereby forcing the wedge blocks under the respective bands 7 andcausing the timbers to be securely clamped between the members 8 and 9.To release the splicing means, it is only necessary to strike the leftend of the clamping member 9, tor instance the block 12, with a hammeror other suitable tool. It is thus evident that my splicing means notonly provides a very simple and strong and durable splice, but also iseasily and quickly operated to either have clamping coaction with a pairof timbers or to be release(L therefrom.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any speciiicconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable ofnumerous changes and modifications without departing from the spirit etthe claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A timber splicer having transversely opposed timber clamping members,which members are ot a cross-sectional shape to term timber receivingcavities which :tace each other and extending across the joint oftimbers to be spliced, retaining` means encircling said members andpermitting relative transverse and longitudinal movements of themembers, and means on one of the members operable to cooperate with theretaining means when the associated member has lengthwise movement inone direction to Vforce the two members to have clamping coaction withany interposed timbers.

2. A timber splicer having transversely opposed timber clamping members,said members being of angular form in cross-section to receive opposingside portions of the timbers to be spliced, retaining bands encirclingsaid members and iiXed to one of said members, the other member beingcapable of transverse movements relative to the bands, and wedge meansmovable lengthwise of the members and cooperating with the bands andmovable member to cause the members to have clamping coaction withinterposed timbers.

A timber splicer having a pair of transversely opposed timber clampingmembers cooperating to term an opening therebetween tor receivingtimbers to be spliced, retaining bands confining the members andpermitting them to have limited relative transverse movements, one otsaid members being iixed to the bands and having timber piercing spursprojecting inwardly therefrom, and wedge means interposed between theloose member and retaining Vbands and operable, when nvsaeae moved inone direction lengthwise of the fixed member, to cause the members tohave clamping coaction with interposed timbers.

4. A timber splicer having transversely opposed timber clamping members,retaining means for said members adapted to retain the members inassembled relation and one member being fixed to said means and theother member being` capable of transverse and longitudinal movementsrelative thereto, wedge means carried by the movable member tor coactionwith the retaining means to fix the movable member toward the companionmember when the movable member is moved in one direction lengthwise ofthe means, and means on the movable member for coacting with theretaining means to limit the lengthwise movements ot such member.

A splicer of the class described, comprisi ,L transversely opposedclamping members mounted tor relative transverse and lonl,.tuflinalmovements and extending lengthwise ot the timbers to be spliced, aplurality of means encircling said members in spaced relation lengthwisethereof to confine the transverse movements of the members, and means onone side of said members cooperating with the encircling means to causethe rociated member to have opposed timber clamping act-ion with respectto the other member when the members have predetermined loi'igitudinalrelative movements.

(5. A splicer of the class described, comprising transversely opposedtimber clamping members mounted 'lor relative transverse and.longitudinal movements and extending lengthwise ot the timbers to bespliced across the joint thereof, a plurality ot' retaining means forsaid clamping members spaced lengthwise thereof, and wedge means on oneot said clamping members operable to coact with the retaining means whenthe associated member has longitudinal movement in one direction toVtorce such member towards its companion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspeciiication.

CHARLES M. MARKHAM.

